Cut bottom of strawberry flat, scoop out center, add the following mixture and freeze for up to 4 hours. Take out, dip strawberries in the extra lemon lime mix and then sugar. Garnish with lemon or lime. Margarita's in the center is also good!

If virgin is your style - just 1 cup lemon lime mix boiling, add the Jell-O until dissolved. Chocolate ice cream in the middle and then when set, drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Shots all around!

Word of Mouth Events & Planning

Whether it’s a wedding, a 50th birthday party, a corporate retreat, or a live musical event, Word of Mouth Events & Planning can get it done. Working closely as a trusted source with the event and meeting designers and managers, we can create your vision and feel while maximizing guest enjoyment and make the experience memorable for all involved. It doesn't matter if it’s celebration of family or business: we are the right event and meeting management firm with the know how to pull everything together with ease and sophistication.

To prepare the speaker(s) for your event provide them with a meeting or event provide them with a meeting or event information sheet. You should have this prepared and finalized no less than three weeks prior to your meeting or event.

This document will give the speaker the statistical and registration data about their audience.

Your scoop sheet should contain:

Location of “green room” – Speakers preparation, rehearsal room

Transportation details – driving directions should be included

Copy of the meeting/event goals and objectives

Attendee stats – number of males/females, age range, location, job titles, number of sessions, and expected attendee totals

Official meeting or event program with meeting room assignment information – include floor plan

Handout procedures – confirm who will be responsible for duplication, the number to be produced and who will bring them

​Preparing a scoop sheet will give you a checklist to make sure that your main event, speaker, is clear and confirmed. As a routine you should develop the habit of placing am follow up call to confirm the packages was received and answer any questions they may have at that time.

Word of Mouth Events & PlanningMake your next event extraordinary by incorporating one or many of our specialty services. We work with you to create the perfect ambiance with decor and lighting. Capture the moment with photography or videography. We leave guests with a lasting impression of your event with personalize memorabilia.

Communication, of course, is a huge part of event planning. You have to be able to communicate with co-workers, vendors, sponsors, donors, clients, venues, etc. One thing that has to be accounted for…English is not everyone’s first language.Spanish is a good language to know, in any amount. Losing out on clients or a sponsorship due to a language barrier is not good for business. In fact, you could enhance the number of endorsements you receive by simply pitching ideas or even attempting to communicate in Spanish.Only good at writing the language? Consider translating some of your marketing tools into Spanish. Good at reading the language? Get local business magazines and newspapers written in Spanish.Perhaps you’re like me. I can read, write and carry a conversation in Spanish. I’m just not confident with it. But the more I shy away from it, the more of a barrier the language will hold.With any language, you have to use it to get better at it. So, if you here someone speaking another language you may be familiar with, try to start a conversation. Sure, you may sound silly, but it will pay off in the end.Si usted practica mucho, en el futuro usted va a hablar mejor.

Word of Mouth can create an environment to meet any event goal or objective. We offer entertainment to promote networking, reward and incentive programs, or just plain FUN!

Whether it’s a wedding, a 50th birthday party, a corporate retreat, or a live musical event, Word of Mouth Events & Planning can get it done. Working closely as a trusted source with the event and meeting designers and managers, we can create your vision and feel while maximizing guest enjoyment and make the experience memorable for all involved. It doesn't matter if it’s celebration of family or business: we are the right event and meeting management firm with the know how to pull everything together with ease and sophistication.

Whether it’s a wedding, a 50th birthday party, a corporate retreat, or a live musical event, Word of Mouth Events & Planning can get it done. Working closely as a trusted source with the event and meeting designers and managers, we can create your vision and feel while maximizing guest enjoyment and make the experience memorable for all involved. It doesn't matter if it’s celebration of family or business: we are the right event and meeting management firm with the know how to pull everything together with ease and sophistication.

~ Here's to elegance..

Whether your guests are competitive and want to see who can achieve the longest drive on our virtual golf simulator, or want to relax and shoot a game of pool, sports bars and game rooms are ideal for accomplishing both. Our vast inventory of immaculate games varies from old school favorites to virtual simulators. We have games to fit any theme and budget! Add games to your next hospitality suite or reception to take your event to the next level.

I am sure some events lend themselves to a duo or even a solo act. But sometimes, it is greatly appreciated to have a group of people working together to meet the same goal.I am the project lead with three team members and assistance from my boss. Working in a group of four may seem simple, but I assure you it is not an easy task. The tip for this week is how to keep yourself and your team organized and on the same page.Communication – This is a big deal. Whether it is sending 100 emails per day, making seemingly endless phone calls, creating chat rooms, or exhausting your text messages, communication is an essential element of a strong team.Take Good Notes – Anytime an idea, question, or suggestion comes to mind, write it down. You can never have too much information or too many notes. Then, at the end of the night, type everything out so you can keep it dated and recorded as neatly as possible.Err on the “too much” than “too little” – When communicating, include as much information as possible. If you felt it was important enough to write down, then include it when you relay information.Embrace suggestions – Always listen to what your team members have to say. Everyone has a different way of looking at things, and by finding an efficient way to combine all the angles, the end result can be amazing.Never forget your boss is there to help you – Your boss is experienced in the industry and has overcome a lot of obstacles. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or use their resources. And always pay attention when your boss is speaking. Note how they communicate with other professionals. View your boss as the perfect template for success.Remember, each day opens the door for a new learning experience. So soak it all in.Happy planning!

The beginning stages of planning an event are perhaps the most tedious. A lot of hours are put into researching, Google searching and asking your boss a lot of questions.My goal for the week was to tackle a venue. My thought process: finding a venue would lead to setting a date. However, finding in a venue in a place you just moved to is very difficult.I researched the venues I thought were appropriate. I tried to get as much information as possible from the websites, so when I called I wasn't wasting time asking questions that were answered through the venue’s website.It was a wonderful idea; however, after posting ads on Craigslist for models, runway coaches and designers, I got caught up in the other potential elements of the event I could gain from Craigslist. (photographers/videographers, caterers, etc.)So, researching my venues was put on a brief hiatus; however, it is back to the top of the priority list.The first day jitters are finally gone, and I feel my first week has been successful. Especially since I've never planned an event of this caliber, and I just moved from out-of-state.This week I learned anything can be done with a little guidance.

Whether your guests are competitive and want to see who can achieve the longest drive on our virtual golf simulator, or want to relax and shoot a game of pool, sports bars and game rooms are ideal for accomplishing both. Our vast inventory of immaculate games varies from old school favorites to virtual simulators. We have games to fit any theme and budget! Add games to your next hospitality suite or reception to take your event to the next level.

“Cost-savings is a mindset,” said Rick Kauffman, business development manager, ITA Group, a West Des Moines, Iowa-based employee engagement company. Speaking at the 8th Annual Pharma Forum in Orlando this spring, Kauffman said cost savings can be achieved through a combination of reducing expenses, avoiding costs, and good negotiating. Here are some of the cost-savings tips from all facets and phases of a meeting Kauffman and co-presenter Dorie Deebold, managing director, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Philadelphia, offered.Planning1. Choose your locations wisely. Look for hot dates, off-season rates, and lower-tier destinations.2. Be flexible with travel patterns.3. Use electronic communications instead of print.4. Prioritize your concessions and negotiate what’s most important to your group.5. Take advantage of volume buying with vendors, such as booking multiple meetings with a property at the same time.6. Generate a cost-savings/cost-containment report for each meeting to show how much money was saved.7. Use preferred vendors for volume discounts.8. Consider airports hotels, which tend to have lower rates and fewer transportation costs.Hotels/guest rooms9. Negotiate complimentary guest rooms based on pickup, such as one per every 40 rooms.10. Have resort fees and Internet fees reduced or waived, at least for VIP or staff rooms.(Try for the full block if possible.)11. Disallow early departure fees on rooms.12. Make sure rooms booked after cutoff date are at the contracted rate.13. Negotiate rooms booked pre- and post-convention at contracted group rate.14. If you have to cancel the meeting, put the cancellation funds toward a future meeting at the property.15. Have attrition based on hotel occupancy, so each night the hotel reaches 95 percent occupancy, you pay no attrition.16. Get complimentary access to health club or lounge for VIPs.Meeting rooms and F&B17. If adequate meeting room space is not available and suites are used as breakout rooms, have suite charges waived or reduced.18. Have standard setup fees and meeting space rental fees waived.19. Reuse signage from meeting to meeting.20. Negotiate complimentary beverages for on-site staff office.21. Ask the CVB if they will host any events or offer entertainment options at no cost.22. Book restaurant reservations using a group credit card to avoid DMC fee.23. Negotiate a sliding scale for F&B at a hotel.Audiovisual24. Negotiate discounts with the hotel’s in-house AV provider as part of your preferred-vendor agreements.25. Ask to have service charges waived for using an outside AV provider.26. Have service charges waived on local calls.27. Require free high-speed Internet access in staff office and meeting rooms.Have free phone lines installed in meeting office.28. Get discount on photocopier and printer rentals for the on-site office.29. Ask for complimentary power strips and extension cords in staff office.30. Ask for free podiums, microphones, and easels.31. Try to piggyback on staging and rigging for events before and/or after your meeting.Décor and entertainment32. Require free use of hotel linens and buffet décor.33. Reuse table florals at meals.34. Reuse table draping and other decorating materials.35. Reduce travel expenses by using local entertainment and speakers.36. Look for creative hotel function space and décor, such as the rooftop, the loading dock area, and the kitchen, and use existing props.37. Get reduced power and electrical fees for entertainment and for outdoor function lighting.38. Have trucking fees waived or get discounted delivery fees.39. Make sure the stage for entertainment is complimentary.Activities and transportation40. Book flights as early as possible—the savings can be significant.41. Seek discounts on golf tee times, bottled waters, and towels on carts.42. Ask for discounts for spa treatments.43. Inquire about complimentary VIP and staff airport transfers.44. Avoid individual airport transfers when possible; book in groups.45. Ask CVB for discount or free tickets to shows, entertainment, or other services.46. Ask hoteliers for complimentary VIP transfers (also ask if they have a house car you can use).47. Seek reduced pricing on destination management company activities.48. Keep activities on site to minimize transportation costs.49. Use DMC to staff hospitality desk instead of in-house staff.50. Check all invoices carefully for billing errors.

Whether it’s a wedding, a 50th birthday party, a corporate retreat, or a live musical event, Word of Mouth Events & Planning can get it done. Working closely as a trusted source with the event and meeting designers and managers, we can create your vision and feel while maximizing guest enjoyment and make the experience memorable for all involved. It doesn't matter if it’s celebration of family or business: we are the right event and meeting management firm with the know how to pull everything together with ease and sophistication.

Business to business communication can be challenging and more intimidating than communicating with a client who has sought you out. All events have overhead costs; however, it is crucial to get as much “bang for you buck” for as many aspects of an event as possible.As an event planner, you may be used to being the service provider. Sometimes, you’ll need services from others. When it comes time to pay for a service your event requires, you should have a clear price cap as well as a clear understanding of the economic climate.Working out a deal is a technique that may take time to develop depending on your confidence level. I’ve found it beneficial to get into “consumer mode,” during negotiation time. Why? Because that’s what you are. You can’t be demanding, and you can’t be compliant. All of this goes back to the fundamental researching that is important in event planning.You also have to be able to compromise. If a business is willing to lower the price of their services, you should be able to offer them exposure at an event you’re hosting. That defines the business relationship, which strengthens the contact and cuts out time in the next event’s planning process.So, next time a service provider gives you an outrageously high price quote, be calm and stand by your research. Confidently suggest a compromise that suits both parties, and I’m sure any business will be more than happy to work something out with you. Happy planning!Brittany Malone, Word of Mouth Events & PlanningProfessional-In-Training (P.I.T.)

Whether it’s a three day retreat for 500 or a special celebration for 10, Word of Mouth Events & Planning will successfully execute every aspect of event planning from location to your dining experience.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Get your Attendees to the Meeting Site

Thinking about all the different forms of domestic and international travel options: air private or chartered jets, helicopters, public or private cars, trains, yachts, ocean liner, limo, horseback, bus – chartered and public, taxi and even by foot.

The truth of ht matter for a majority of your meetings will use commercial air to get your attendees local. Once they arrive to the host city they will use a variety of ground transportation services to move around the city.

Think about what is most economical for your attendee in most cases they will be covering their own travel expenses. There are some cases when you will need to cover travel for celebrity, special VIP guests. Since air travel is the norm in most cases. Contact the major airlines for rates and regulations, make sure to ask for the current fees and promotion for checked baggage and carry ons. Consider how far they are from your meeting place. Don’t forget the smaller air ports, some are able to provide more efficiency and cost less. For assistance don’t forget to check with the local Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) they are a very knowledgeable resource.

When considering airlines contact them and ask about their meeting programs. A program could include: Free tickets based on volume and group fares and discounts. Beware there are some times when no group discounts are available.

Be prepared to answer the following questions when booking with the airline:

* Starting location for passengers

* Meeting destination

* Date and time of event

* Number of passengers

Check with each airline, some airlines require a different passenger number to be considered a group, but the Sales Office will be able to help you secure seats and save money when possible. You can also offer a testimonial via social media for future possible discounts. Then you sign the contract will be given a group number. Take this number and publish it on your meeting materials. Make sure they know to use this number to associate themselves with this group and qualify for the special rate when booking their flight. The savvy trailer may opt to use frequent flyer points or miles, travel discount sites, travel club like AAA.

You just can't find the time or maybe you are not sure how to plan everything yourself. You've tried to work planning into your schedule, but it's just not possible - it's OK we're here to help. Word of Mouth Events & Planning has what you need, knowledgeable and friendly professionals. Your day needs to be special, and it should be with our planners, you will have the confidence that we will give you the wedding of your dreams.